Citrus canker wreaked havoc on the citrus industry in South and Central Florida in the early 2000s. The disease causes spotting on the leaves and fruit and can stop a tree from producing fruit again.

Written by

Michael Scott Davidson
| mdavidson2@pnj.com

Florida agriculture agencies are asking Escambia and Santa Rosa County gardeners to be on the lookout for a disease that could radically damage citrus tree growth in the Panhandle.

Citrus canker has been spotted in Santa Rosa County, according to the Santa Rosa County Extension Agency. The first and only verified case of the disease was discovered in the Tiger Point area a few weeks ago, making it the first ever confirmed case in Northwest Florida.

The highly contagious disease, which is transmitted by a bacterial pathogen, is known in South and Central Florida for harming healthy citrus ...